Colleges

Kroger Captures The Essence of SpelHouse Homecoming with New Film

Homecoming may not be in person this year but Kroger really came through to keep the HBCU homecoming spirit alive with their new film Food is Love.

The film, which was shot at Spelman and Morehouse’s homecoming before COVID last year, highlights the essence and energy that is signature to HBCUs during homecoming season perfectly.

Shot by Spelman and Morehouse graduates Maame-Yaa Aforo and Stephen Love, the film contains interviews with familiar faces and focuses on the love that goes into the preparation of something that we all love about HBCU homecomings, the food.

“Documenting homecoming was such a cool experience. As a filmmaker, it has always been a dream of mine to get to go back to campus for a project, and this was that for me,” Maame-Yaa Aforo stated. “An added bonus was getting to chat with the awesome crew about SpelHouse traditions in between takes. I got to look at Morehouse and Spelman and all their greatness as an outsider for the first time and it made me even more grateful to be a part of such an amazing community.”

Stephen Love also opened up about shooting the film:

“Between work and grad school, this was literally my first time coming ‘home’ since I graduated. And to literally see our tradition through a different lens gave me even more appreciation for our HBCU heritage. What better way to celebrate homecoming than through the familial pastime of passing a plate!”

Watch the full film below:

Last Monday, Kroger announced its Framework for Action: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion plan, featuring both immediate and longer-term steps developed in collaboration with its associates and leaders to accelerate and promote greater change in the workplace and in the communities the company serves.

“We have taken a very thoughtful and purposeful approach to develop what we believe are the right actions to substantially and positively impact our culture and our country, creating real change now and into the future. We are approaching this effort with humility, knowing we can’t do it alone and don’t and won’t have all the answers,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO. “Our new Framework for Action: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion plan reflects our desire to redefine, deepen, and advance our commitment, mobilizing our people, passion, scale and resources.”

Through the Framework for Action: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion plan, Kroger is enhancing and expanding its recruitment partnerships with more diverse higher education institutions such as Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), including Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, Kentucky State University, Morehouse College, North Carolina A&T State University, Spelman College and Tennessee State University, and Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU), including Dalton State College and the University of Texas A&M System. Through the program, Kroger is focusing on campus immersion activities and providing resources to help students transition from collegiate life to the workplace.

In addition to this, Kroger is also uplifting HBCU students by supporting on-campus food pantries at several schools across the country.

(This post was sponsored by Kroger)